Monthly BBB Hit Parade
Naming Names is not about revenge or vindictiveness, it is about accountability. The BBB enforces business standards and holds both accredited and non-accredited businesses accountable.
Naming Names is a monthly release of the BBB’s complaint handling activities for the previous month. All complaints that have closed out in the BBB's previous month's timeframe are utilized to compile this monthly Naming Names. What warrants companies named in this release? Those businesses that 1) don't answer complaints brought to their attention by the BBB, 2) have a complaint closed disputed, which means that, despite attention to the complaint, the company did not resolve the issue, 3) are unable to be found and have mail returned to the BBB as undeliverable, 4) have had a high volume of complaints for the month that, as a result, drove its industry to the top ten (whether they resolved the complaints or not, and whether they are accredited or not).
PLEASE NOTE: Companies named in the top ten monthly categories can be both accredited and non-accredited businesses. BBB Accredited Businesses can be cited for having a high volume of complaints for the month, but can't have unanswered complaints, a pattern of complaints, nor be "unable to be pursued" and still maintain BBB accreditation.
If any BBB Accredited Business fails to comply with BBB standards, their accreditation is suspended and sent to the Board of Directors for review.
NAMING NAMES October 2009
TOP TEN COMPLAINT INDUSTRIES
1. AUTO REPAIR AND SERVICES took the number one slot once again last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Express Delivery, Inc. of Spokane, WA and Vista Service Towing LLC of Moses Lake, WA each had one complaint closed unanswered, and Driveline Services of Wenatchee and McBride’s Auto & Truck Repair of Rice, WA each had one complaint closed disputed. Complaints for this industry concerned billing/refunds and service issues.
2. CONSTRUCTION and HOME BUILDING took the number two spot last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Moses Lake Contractors, Inc. of Moses Lake, WA, Phaze One Concrete of Spokane, WA, Anytime Paving and Wells Paving both of Kalispell, MT, each had one complaint closed unanswered, and Timber and Stone Creations of Walla Walla, WA, and LC Burt and Sons Construction LLC of Medical Lake, WA each had one complaint closed disputed. Complaints for this industry concerned contracts, repairs, guarantees and product.
3. REAL ESTATE, MANAGEMENT, AND RENTALS took the number three slot last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Northwest Property Management of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Property Management of Kalispell, MT, Sage Apartments of Billings, MT, and Guardian Property Management of Hamilton, MT each had one unanswered complaint. Complaints for this category mostly concerned repair, customer service and refund issues.
4. AUTOS-NEW took the fourth slot last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Steve Hahn’s Volkswagen, Audi, Suzuki, Inc. of Yakima, WA had one complaint closed unanswered, and Airway Auto Mart of Moses Lake, WA had one complaint closed unable to be pursued. It appears that Airway Auto Mart is out of business. If you have an unresolved issue concerning it, we advise you to seek legal counsel. Complaints for this category mostly concerned contract and billing issues.
5. MAGAZINE SALES took the number five spot last month with all complaints closed resolved. Complaints for this category mostly concerned billing/refund issues and selling practices. Check reports 1st with BBB before agreeing if anybody calls you or goes door-to-door offering magazines for sale.
6. PAYDAY LOANS (ONLINE) took the number six spot once again this month due mostly to the activities of an online payday loan company operating out of Box Elder, MT which has various dbas but mostly goes by the name PDL Ventures. PDL Ventures had 13 complaints total this past month, 12 of which were closed unanswered. Complaints for this company regard billing and contract issues.
BBB NOTE: If you have an unresolved complaint against these ventures out of Box Elder, MT, we advise you to file a formal complaint with the FBI’s online complaint center at: www.ic3.gov as well as the Federal Trade Commission at: www.ftc.gov
7. AUTOS-USED took the number seven slot once again this past month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Blue Sky Auto of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Greenacres Motors, Inc. of Spokane Valley, WA, Ninth Street Auto Sales of Walla Walla, WA and R and R Auto Sales of Spokane, WA each had one complaint closed unanswered. Complaints for this category mostly concerned contracts, customer service and repair.
8. HEALTH CLUBS took the number eight slot this past month mostly due to Global Fitness of Spokane Valley, WA which had five unanswered complaints. Valley Fitness of Spokane Valley, WA had one unanswered complaint. Complaints for this industry concerned contract, service and billing/refund issues.
9. PHONE SERVICES took the number nine slot this past month mostly due to American eVoice of Missoula, MT with a drop box only in Missoula, MT. All complaints for this category were closed resolved. Complaints for this industry concerned billing/refund issues.
10. HOTELS/MOTELS took the number ten slot this past month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Family Inns of Missoula, MT and Sleep Inn of Billings, MT each had one complaint closed unanswered. Complaints for this industry mostly concerned service and billing issues.